[11/16/11 - 07:20 AM]A&E Network's Industry Leading Crime & Justice Programs Are Back for Brand New Seasons"The First 48" and "Beyond Scared Straight" return Thursday, December 8 while "Dog the Bounty Hunter" and "Steven Seagal Lawman" are back Wednesday, January 4.

[via press release from A&E]

A&E NETWORK'S INDUSTRY LEADING CRIME & JUSTICE PROGRAMS ARE BACK FOR BRAND NEW SEASONS

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 16, 2011 - A&E Network returns the four most-watched real-life crime and justice series on cable for all-new premieres beginning Thursday, December 8, with new episodes of "The First 48" at 9PM and "Beyond Scared Straight" at 10PM ET/PT and on Wednesday, January 4, new seasons of "Dog the Bounty Hunter" at 9PM and "Steven Seagal Lawman" at 10PM ET/PT.

"The First 48" premieres Thursday, December 8 at 9pm ET/PT.

"The First 48," the critically-acclaimed series that follows real-life homicide detectives across the country, returns with its most intense and intriguing cases yet. This season, homicide detectives from Miami, Dallas, Birmingham, Harris County, TX and DeKalb County, GA, race to find leads, witnesses, and evidence - before they disappear. And the clock is ticking.

"The First 48" is produced by ITV Studios America for A&E Network. The Executive Producer for ITV Studios America is John X. Kim; Co-Executive Producer is Lorna Thomas. Executive producers for A&E are Peter Tarshis, Laura Fleury and David McKillop.

Academy award-winning producer Arnold Shapiro's #1 non-fiction crime and justice series on cable, "Beyond Scared Straight" follows prison and jail deterrence programs aimed at helping at-risk teens. Each one-hour episode focuses on a different existing "behind bars" program in the U.S. that follows four teens as they enter intensive one-day "incarceration" sessions that show them the consequences of bad choices and criminal behavior. This season a 13-year-old realizes she may be pregnant by the 20-year-old boyfriend she met online; two teens unexpectedly encounter family members behind bars; the program pays a visit to the county morgue and at the end of the day the teens must convince the deputies that they are worthy of leaving jail.

"Dog the Bounty Hunter" season 8 premieres Wednesday, January 4 at 9pm ET/PT.

The world's most famous bounty hunter, Duane "Dog" Chapman, is back with action-packed, high-stakes hunts from Hawaii to Colorado, tracking down fugitives along side his wife Beth and fearless family-based posse. The intensity of bounty hunting is taking its toll on the Chapman family this year - Baby Lyssa has a run-in with the law after a night of drinking, Duane Lee is fighting with Dog and Beth about his responsibilities to the family business and Leland is stuck in the middle. Dog and Beth are trying to keep the family working together, and in this season, they have some of the most adrenaline fueled, heart pumping chases and catches to date.

"Dog the Bounty Hunter" is produced by Hybrid Films for A&E Network. David Houts and Daniel Elias serve as the executive producers for Hybrid Films. David McKillop and Neil A. Cohen serve as the A&E executive producers.

"Steven Seagal Lawman" chronicles martial arts expert and international film star Steven Seagal's extraordinary life in law enforcement. This season, Seagal has joined up with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office in Arizona to execute outstanding arrest warrants, respond to emergency situations, work with the narcotics unit and much more. Arizona is on the front line of narcotics trade, murders, cartels and smuggling and Steven has set up residency in Maricopa County to help keep the peace and protect the community. In each thirty-minute episode, fans will ride shotgun with Seagal as he and Sheriff's deputies work on open cases and respond to crimes in progress.

"Steven Seagal Lawman" is produced for A&E Network by ITV Studios America and Steamroller Productions. John X. Kim is the Executive Producer for ITV Studios America. Jake Laufer and Harvey Wilson are Co-Executive Producers for ITV Studios America. Steven Seagal and Phillip B. Goldfine are Executive Producers for Steamroller Productions. Binh Dang is a Producer for Steamroller Productions. Executive Producers for A&E are Neil A.Cohen and David McKillop.

About A&E Network

A&E is "Real Life. Drama." Now reaching more than 99 million homes, A&E is television that you can't turn away from; where unscripted shows are dramatic and scripted dramas are authentic. A&E offers a diverse mix of high quality entertainment ranging from the network's original scripted series, including "The Glades," and "Breakout Kings," to signature non-fiction franchises, including the Emmy-winning "Intervention," "Dog the Bounty Hunter," "Hoarders," "Beyond Scared Straight" and "Storage Wars," and the most successful justice shows on cable, including "The First 48." The A&E website is located at www.aetv.com.